US Launches Spy Satellite From California Air Force Base

The United States launched on Wednesday a top secret reconnaissance satellite on an Atlas V carrier rocket from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in the state of California.

The United Launch Alliance launched the Atlas V 401 for the country's NROL-79 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office at 9:49 PT (17:49 GMT). The NROL-79 mission is classified and the purpose and final orbit altitude of the satellite are secret.

The National Reconnaissance Office develops space-based reconnaissance systems for US intelligence.

The NROL-79 mission could be a pair of Naval Ocean Surveillance Satellite spacecraft used by the US Navy, according to Spaceflight Insider.